XMM-Newton explores the fossil galaxy cluster RX J1416.4+2315
Minimum credit line: Image courtesy of Habib Khosroshahi (University of Birmingham) and ESA. (for details, see Conditions of Use).
Credit: ESA/XMM-Newton, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
The image above can be displayed at full size and may be downloaded by clicking the image above.
| About this Image |
|---|
The image shows an X-ray emitting cloud (blue) observed by XMM-Newton in the fossil galaxy cluster RX J1416.4+2315 together with an optical R-band image of the central galaxy. The cloud is three million light years across and temperatures inside it reach 50 million degrees. This cloud is believed to surround a giant elliptical galaxy which has formed from merging smaller galaxies. Dark matter in a group of galaxies holds the group together by gravitational attraction. This may cause larger galaxies to move towards the centre of the group and merge together into one giant galaxy. In a fossil group all of the galaxies have merged into one giant galaxy, surrounded by a dark matter halo. The dark matter halo gravitationally attracts hot gas, visible in X-ray emission as in this image.
Investigator(s): H. Khosroshahi, B. Maughan, T. Ponman, L. Jones
| For More Information |
|---|
- Read the Press Release
- Read the Journal article
- Detailed description of this image
- Query XSA archive for XMM-Newton data in the field of RX J1416.4+2315
- Astronomical database entries for RX J1416.4+2315;
- Query NED for more images about RX J1416.4+2315
- Query SIMBAD for more RX J1416.4+2315 data
- For unfamiliar terms, visit the XMM-Newton Astronomical Glossary
| Alternate Resolutions | (Help) |
|---|
This image is available in the following downloadable versions: Higher resolution versions of this image may be available, please contact the XMM-Newton HelpDesk.
Search the Image Gallery
To search the Image Gallery for a particular object, fill in the object name in the box below and click the Submit button.To search the Image Gallery for other images, fill in any of the fields below and click the Submit button.
For more search options, please use our Advanced Search form.